SSE Airtricity has presented over €40,000 to community projects close to its Kingsmountain and Dunneill Wind Farms in Co. Sligo. The presentation took place at Dromore West Community Centre on Thursday, the 20th March, 2014.
This latest presentation brings the company’s overall contribution to local projects in Sligo to over €190,000. This year, a total of 12 community groups will benefit from the funding, including schools, societies and community councils.
The Dunneill and Kingsmountain Wind Farms have a combined capacity of 36MW and produce enough green energy to power over 24,000 homes in the region. Through its Community Fund Programme, SSE Airtricity makes financial contributions to the communities closest to its wind farms.
St. Joseph’s National School in Templeboy is putting the money towards attic and cavity wall insulation at the school. Helen Kelly, Principal at St. Joseph’s, said: “Our plan is to totally insulate the school to the maximum standard available, which the attic and cavity wall insulation will achieve. The insulation will reduce our energy costs, which will ultimately ease the burden on parents to contribute and divert funding to other activities for the pupils at the school.”
Dromore West Community Council will use the funds to continue their energy efficiency plan. Sean Sweeney, the Council’s Committee Secretary, said: “We started to make our building more energy efficient in 2011. In the first year we placed draught excluders on all the doors and the following year we insulated the attic. Now we’re planning to install a solar-powered water heating system for the centre. SSE Airtricity has funded all of these improvements to date, allowing us to have a comfortable and energy efficient building for the whole community.”
Most of the community groups are putting this latest funding towards greater energy efficiency. Projects range from cavity and loft insulation improvements at Sandcastles Childcare Centre and St. Joseph’s National School, to installations of energy efficient lighting at Castleconnor Community Company, Easkey Community Council and St. Farnan’s Drama Society. Dromore West Community Council and Dromore West Central National School are both hoping to install solar-powered water heating systems.
Other initiatives include creating a walking and running track at St. Farnan’s Community Park Association in Templeboy, and the replacing of windows and doors for the Skreen Dromard Community Council.
Seamus Connolly, Chairman of St. Farnan’s Community Park Association, said: “St. Farnan’s has benefited greatly from SSE Airtricity’s support. We have already been able to make our building more energy efficient, and now we can build the much needed track. This will help increase community participation in sport and exercise at all ages.”
SSE Airtricity Community Development Officer, Anne Reynolds said: “We are delighted to be able to help so many community groups in the area. It’s great to see so much of the money going towards greater energy efficiency, something we’re always promoting at SSE Airtricity. Through our Community Fund Programme, we have been able to award more than €40,000 to 12 worthy projects in the region. We are committed to bringing positive energy to the communities near our wind farms. By helping local groups to become more energy efficient and in turn reduce their fuel costs, we can all live in a greener and more sustainable environment.”